This was a game that had almost everything – asides from the all-important goal.

Nottingham Forest signed off the Championship season at the City Ground with a performance that perfectly personified one of their biggest issues in the second half of the campaign.

Aitor Karanka’s side played some outstanding football and created some outstanding chances, but despite 25 efforts on goal – including a Lee Tomlin penalty that was saved – they could not find the back of the net.

There was one big cheer, as Chris Cohen came off the bench to make what is likely to be his last appearance in a Forest shirt, in the final stages.

But Forest could not mark the occasion with a win; one that would have been more than deserved.

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He collected the ball just inside the Bristol half and rampaged down the left flank, before cutting his inside his marker to deliver a right footed shot that Frank Fielding did well to save, diving awkwardly to his right, to push around the post.

Tomlin was being loudly booed by the fans of his former club, when he took the resulting corner.

When Lolley cut inside from the opposite flank, it gave him the room to get right behind a shot, which he struck powerfully. Nathan Baker paid a high price for his commitment, as he got his body in the way of the shot, but ended up being carried off the pitch after several minutes of treatment, with a head injury.

He was replaced by Callum O’Dowda in the 13th minute, with the game having been delayed for around five minutes.

Tomlin came close again, as some determined build-up play ended with him finding a few yards of space to have a crack from the edge of the box and send a shot fizzing only a foot or two the wrong side of the upright.

Forest were getting joy from wide positions, with Darikwa then whipping in a cross from the right with precision, picking out Lolley, who could not match his accuracy with a wayward finish that cleared the bar.

A flick-on from Murphy sent Bouchalakis striding into a dangerous position, but his shot did not quite dip enough, as it skimmed over the top of the bar.

Chris Cohen receives the captains arm band from Danny Fox for the last time (Image: John Sumpter @JMS Photography)

Bristol responded as Osborn was forced to clear a dangerous cross to the far post from Famara Diedhiou, before Marlon Pack then drove a low shot across goal and only narrowly wide.

Forest should have taken the lead when Lolley delivered a peach of a cross into the centre, for an unmarked Bouchalakis to attack six or seven yards out – but the midfielder could not keep his header on target.

A nice interchange between Tomlin, Lolley and Bouchalakis ended with Lolley driving a low shot wide.

When the former Huddersfield man saw space open up in front of him again, he drove forward with purpose and could hardly have hit his shot with more power, but Fielding just about managed to keep the ball out, even if he was not able to hold on to it.

Applause from the fans and staff as Chris Cohen makes his final appearance for Forest at The City Ground (Image: John Sumpter @JMS Photography)

Fielding was drawn into action again when Tomlin had yet another driven effort saved, when it looked destined to fly inside the near post.

Fox picked out Osborn with a superb ball down the left flank and the full-back conjured up a cross of equal quality – but Forest saw another golden opportunity go begging, as Guedioura sent a shot spinning wide of the post, when he had the goal at his mercy.

A tricky, twisting run from Tomlin had Bristol backing off in a panic and, after he had fed Guedioura, the ball was slotted through to Lolley, who tried to pick his spot with a curling shot towards the far post, which was deflected wide for a corner.

Normal service was resumed after the interval, with Tomlin dancing into the Robins’ box, only to drive a tightly angled shot right at Fielding, who had made himself big.

The keeper was not troubled when Murphy held up the ball for Bouchalakis, who drove another shot over the bar.

A poor clearance from Colback presented Bobby Reid with a good chance to break the deadlock but, thankfully for the Reds, his shot was bent narrowly high and wide.

Chances do not come any clearer than penalty kicks – and Forest found themselves with one after Osborn beat Fielding to a race to the ball in the box, with the keeper booked for hacking him down and referee Jeremy Simpson pointing to the spot.

But, following a short run up, Tomlin’s penalty was a weak one and Fielding dived simply to his right to push the ball away and deny the home side yet again.

All Forest players wear the Cohen 8 shirt during the walk round to show their appreciation (Image: John Sumpter @JMS Photography)

Forest suffered a blow when Guedioura had to be replaced in the 71st minute, after collecting an injury of some sort, with Liam Bridcutt replacing him.

Osborn, for the second time in the game, hesitated when presented with the chance to angle in a shot, and saw his cross cleared.

A cleverly worked corner fed Tomlin on the edge of the box but Mancienne prodded his cross into the side netting, at full stretch.

Cohen was introduced in the 89th minute, for what is likely to be his final appearance in a Forest shirt.

There was almost a late bit of romantic drama, as the ball briefly threatened to fall to him in the box, but it was not to be, as it bounced away from him.

And, while the long-serving club captain received a deserved ovation from the Forest fans, at the final whistle, there was to be no victory for the City Ground to cheer, following a game they almost entirely dominated.